Amherst man pushed by police responds after Trump tweet: 'Black Lives Matter'
Sarah Taddeo, New York State Team Published 11:53 a.m. ET June 9, 2020 | Updated 9:57 a.m. ET June 10, 2020
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A 75-year-old man suffered a head injury and is in 'stable but serious condition' after he was shoved by police during a protest in Buffalo, New York. Storyful
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was seen bleeding from the back of the head after he hit the sidewalk.
Gugino was present at a peaceful protest in Buffalo on Thursday and was one of several dozen people standing in front of City Hall, about 10 minutes after the city’s 8 p.m. curfew started, according to bystanders.
In multiple videos of the moment, Gugino approached a group of Buffalo Police officers on the sidewalk.
He appeared to say something to them and gestured toward them with what appeared to be a phone or other device.
He was then shoved backward by two officers, after which he lost his balance, stumbled back and fell, whacking his head hard on the sidewalk.
Witnesses say Gugino began bleeding from his ear, and video footage shows blood pooling near his head.
Police called emergency personnel to assist Gugino, who was released to the rehabilitation floor of Erie County Medical Center Wednesday morning, according to his attorney Kelly Zarcone. He was in fair condition as of Tuesday, according to the medical center.
"His condition continues to improve and we hope he will be released within the next two weeks," said Zarcone.
Gugino's attorney responds to Trump tweet
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Over 300 rallied, protested in Buffalo
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Several large groups of protesters gathered peacefully in Niagara Square in downtown Buffalo Friday, June 5, 2020. One large group that had approximately 300 or more people marched to nearby Lafayette Square walking on Court Street. A protester holds up a sign making a derogatory remark about one of the police officers while walking by Buffalo Police Headquarters. The officer is accused of pushing a 75-year-old man down while clearing Niagara Square yesterday. Tina MacIntyre-Yee/Rochester Democrat and Chronicle
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Over 300 rallied, protested in Buffalo
Several large groups of protesters gathered peacefully in Niagara Square in downtown Buffalo Friday, June 5, 2020. One large group that had approximately 300 or more people marched to nearby Lafayette Square. A couple hundred people, white coats for Black lives, gathered in Niagara Square and silently protested taking a knee during a moment of silence and a speech. The two doctors hold signs. Tina MacIntyre-Yee/Rochester Democrat and Chronicle
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Several large groups of protesters gathered peacefully in Niagara Square in downtown Buffalo Friday, June 5, 2020. Several groups gathered at different points during the day. Tina MacIntyre-Yee/Rochester Democrat and Chronicle
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Several large groups of protesters gathered peacefully in Niagara Square in downtown Buffalo Friday, June 5, 2020. One large group that had approximately 300 or more people marched to nearby Lafayette Square. A group of doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals came from a variety of hospitals in Buffalo. Tina MacIntyre-Yee/Rochester Democrat and Chronicle
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New York State Police carrying batons, shields and helmets enter Buffalo Police Headquarters in Buffalo on Friday, June 5, 2020. Tina MacIntyre-Yee/Rochester Democrat and Chronicle
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Several large groups of protesters gathered peacefully in Niagara Square in downtown Buffalo Friday, June 5, 2020. One large group that had approximately 300 or more people marched to nearby Lafayette Square. and then took a knee. After observing a moment of silence and hearing speeches the large group dispersed. Tina MacIntyre-Yee/Rochester Democrat and Chronicle
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A march from Niagara Square in Buffalo ,NY started around 5 p.m. Friday, June 5, 2020 with a large group walking down Chippewa St. many protesting Buffalo police. The group numbered several hundred. Tina MacIntyre-Yee/Rochester Democrat and Chronicle
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A march from Niagara Square in Buffalo ,NY started around 5 p.m. Friday, June 5, 2020 with a large group walking down Chippewa St. many protesting Buffalo police. Tina MacIntyre-Yee/Rochester Democrat and Chronicle
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Several large groups of protesters gathered peacefully in Niagara Square in downtown Buffalo, NY Friday, June 5, 2020. One large group that had approximately 300 or more people marched to nearby Lafayette Square. A couple hundred people, white coats for Black lives, gathered in Niagara Square and silently protested taking a knee. Takesha Leonard, a nurse practitioner at Jericho Road Community Health Center in Buffalo cries as she listens to the organizer of white coats for Black lives. She said, ÒI have five boys at home, itÕs hitting me really hard.Ó She called the event beautiful. Tina MacIntyre-Yee/Rochester Democrat and Chronicle
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Several large groups of protesters gathered peacefully in Niagara Square in downtown Buffalo Friday, June 5, 2020. Early in the evening a drumming group performed for the crowd, pausing between songs for chants and speeches. Tina MacIntyre-Yee/Rochester Democrat and Chronicle
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Several large groups of protesters gathered peacefully in Niagara Square in downtown Buffalo Friday, June 5, 2020. One large group that had approximately 300 or more people marched to nearby Lafayette Square. A couple hundred people, white coats for Black lives, gathered in Niagara Square and silently protested taking a knee. At the end of the evening another group came back to Niagara Square and marched north chanting "Black Lives Matter" and "This is what democracy looks like." This group was walking along Richmond St. at Auburn Ave. several miles away from Niagara Square. Tina MacIntyre-Yee/Rochester Democrat and Chronicle
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Several large groups of protesters gathered peacefully in Niagara Square in downtown Buffalo Friday, June 5, 2020. Supporters of Black Lives Matter and anti-racism started coming to the square early evening. Tina MacIntyre-Yee/Rochester Democrat and Chronicle
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Several large groups of protesters gathered peacefully in Niagara Square in downtown Buffalo Friday, June 5, 2020. One large group that had approximately 300 or more people marched to nearby Lafayette Square. After several short speeches the group broke up and left before Buffalo's curfew started. Tina MacIntyre-Yee/Rochester Democrat and Chronicle
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Several large groups of protesters gathered peacefully in Niagara Square in downtown Buffalo, NY Friday, June 5, 2020. One large group that had approximately 300 or more people marched to nearby Lafayette Square. Tina MacIntyre-Yee/Rochester Democrat and Chronicle
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Several large groups of protesters gathered peacefully in Niagara Square in downtown Buffalo Friday, June 5, 2020. One large group that had approximately 300 or more people marched to nearby Lafayette Square. A couple hundred people, white coats for Black lives, gathered in Niagara Square and silently protested taking a knee. At the end of the evening another group came back to Niagara Square chanting and having supporters driving around the park holding signs or yelling out the cars before they marched north chanting "Black Lives Matter" and "This is what democracy looks like." Tina MacIntyre-Yee/Rochester Democrat and Chronicle
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Several large groups of protesters gathered peacefully in Niagara Square in downtown Buffalo Friday, June 5, 2020. One large group that had approximately 300 or more people marched to nearby Lafayette Square. A couple hundred people, white coats for Black lives, gathered in Niagara Square and silently protested taking a knee after listening to a speech. Many supported racial equity and Black Lives Matter with the signs they brought. Tina MacIntyre-Yee/Rochester Dem
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Several large groups of protesters gathered peacefully in Niagara Square in downtown Buffalo Friday, June 5, 2020. One large group that had approximately 300 or more people marched to nearby Lafayette Square. A couple hundred people, white coats for Black lives, gathered in Niagara Square and silently protested taking a knee. Dr. Ashley Jeanlus with the microphone talks to the crowd, beside her is Dr. Latrice Johnson who helped Jeanlus. The two are OB/GYNs at Oishei Children's Hospital in Buffalo. Tina MacIntyre-Yee/Rochester Democrat and Chronicle
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Several large groups of protesters gathered peacefully in Niagara Square in downtown Buffalo Friday, June 5, 2020. One large group that had approximately 300 or more people marched to nearby Lafayette Square chanting and after several speeches peacefully left. Tina MacIntyre-Yee/Rochester Democrat and Chronicle
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Several large groups of protesters gathered peacefully in Niagara Square in downtown Buffalo Friday, June 5, 2020. One large group that had approximately 300 or more people marched to nearby Lafayette Square. A couple hundred people, white coats for Black lives, gathered in Niagara Square and silently protested taking a knee after a speech by an organizer. Tina MacIntyre-Yee/Rochester Democrat and Chronicle
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New York State Police arrive before a 6 p.m. protest nearby in Niagara Square. They came to assist the Buffalo Police and headed into the Buffalo Police Headquarters Friday, June 5, 2020. Tina MacIntyre-Yee/Rochester Democrat and Chronicle
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Several large groups of protesters gathered peacefully in Niagara Square in downtown Buffalo Friday, June 5, 2020. Tina MacIntyre-Yee/Rochester Democrat and Chronicle
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A march from Niagara Square in Buffalo ,NY started around 5 p.m. Friday, June 5, 2020 with a large group walking down Chippewa St. many protesting Buffalo police. Tina MacIntyre-Yee/Rochester Democrat and Chronicle
Fullscreen
Several large groups of protesters gathered peacefully in Niagara Square in downtown Buffalo Friday, June 5, 2020. One large group that had approximately 300 or more people marched to nearby Lafayette Square. A couple hundred people, white coats for Black lives, gathered in Niagara Square and silently protested taking a knee. and observing silence after a speech. Tina MacIntyre-Yee/Rochester Democrat and Chronicle
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Several large groups of protesters gathered peacefully in Niagara Square in downtown Buffalo Friday, June 5, 2020. Many people held up their signs throughout speeches at Niagara Square. Tina MacIntyre-Yee/Rochester Democrat and Chronicle
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Several large groups of protesters gathered peacefully in Niagara Square in downtown Buffalo, NY Friday, June 5, 2020. One large group that had approximately 300 or more people marched to nearby Lafayette Square after going around Niagara Square and walking past Buffalo City Hall. Tina MacIntyre-Yee/Rochester Democrat and Chronicle
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Solomon Harrison of West Seneca holds up a sign, "What Have Black People Done To Be So Hated!?" in Niagara Square during a gathering of protesters in Buffalo , NY Friday, June 5, 2020. Tina MacIntyre-Yee/Rochester Dem
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Randy Zimmer of Buffalo upset about what happened to the 75-year-old man yesterday came out to Buffalo, NY City Hall to protest Friday, June 5, 2020. He said his sign is asking the police why are they so scared. Tina MacIntyre-Yee/Rochester Dem
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Byron Fogan of Lancaster, NY held a silent peace walk to raise awareness for peace and justice. The walk started from Niagara Square and went north to Gates Circle in Buffalo, NY Friday, June 5, 2020. Tina MacIntyre-Yee/Rochester Democrat and Chronicle
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to the Washington Post, Zarcone called Trump's tweet “a dark, dangerous and untrue accusation.”
“Martin has always been a PEACEFUL protester because he cares about today’s society," Zarcone said.
"He is also a typical Western New Yorker who loves his family. No one from law enforcement has suggested otherwise so we’re at a loss to understand why the president of the United States would make such a dark, dangerous and untrue accusation against him.”
Twitter said that it considered Trump’s tweet speculative and that did not violate the platform’s rules, the Post reported.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo ripped the president's tweet, saying he should apologize for "the reprehensible, dumb comment," calling it written with "no proof whatsoever."
Cuomo said angrily during his briefing Tuesday: "Do you think it was staged? Do you think the blood coming out of his head was staged?"
More: Elderly Buffalo man pushed to ground by police 'comes from a peace tradition'
More: Social-media reaction to Buffalo man pushed by police is swift and fierce
Peaceful man, but works to correct injustice
is a longtime peaceful activist who was known to show up at protests or rallies and ask hard questions. But he was not violent.
“When (Gugino) sees an injustice, he steps forward to bear witness and work to correct it,” said Terrence Bisson, a longtime friend, of Gugino’s activism in general. “He was a peaceful presence. That was his goal."
Gugino had an internet presence on Youtube, social media and a blog, on which he discussed various issues of activism and was at times critical of President Trump or the police.
His blog states he has been arrested four times with no convictions. Both his YouTube and Twitter have been deleted.
Since Thursday’s incident, some social media users have said Gugino was there to provoke unrest or start trouble with police.
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Videos posted following Thursday’s incident show Gugino speaking to a group of people in front of City Hall that same evening; some in the group appear to be upset by Gugino’s views or his presence there.
More: Buffalo police officers seen pushing man to ground charged with assault
'We will not be distracted'
Martin Gugino shown in June 2019 at at Buffalo Youth Climate Strike rally. (Photo: Provided)
Buffalo Mayor Byron W. Brown released a statement Tuesday on the president’s tweet, saying the City of Buffalo has been engaged in constructive discussions around racial equity, and that they “will not be distracted from this urgent work.”
“Our focus on positive change is stronger than ever,” Brown said in the statement. “My administration remains hopeful that Mr. Gugino will experience a full recovery. And that the officers involved in this incident receive due process under law.”
Brown said in a statement last Thursday that he was “disturbed” by the video of the incident between police and Gugino.
It was later inaccurately reported that Brown referred to Gugino as “a major instigator” and an “agitator”; Brown had been referring to another individual at the time.
Two officers, Aaron Torgalski and Robert McCabe, have been charged with one count each of second-degree assault, a felony, in connection with the incident.
They pleaded not guilty and were released. They are expected back in court for a felony hearing on July 20.
More: 2 Buffalo cops charged with assault after video shows officers shoving 75-year-old man to the ground